Jewelry arrangement

ABSTRACT

A jewelry arrangement is described having an elongated metal base having first and second surfaces. The first surface has defined therein a groove running along the length of the base. In one embodiment, the groove has a curved bottom and is less than half as wide as the first surface. In another embodiment, the first surface has two or more parallel grooves defined therein, each of the grooves having a curved bottom. In still another embodiment, the groove has a substantially flat bottom, and the jewelry arrangement also includes a filler arrangement disposed within the groove. The filler arrangement includes first and second tubular, elongated pieces of filler material positioned in an overlapping manner.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to jewelry. More particularly, the present invention relates to a jewelry arrangement such as a ring which includes certain distinctive features thereon.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

In the field of jewelry, various arrangements are known for combining one type of metal with other types of metal or non-metal material to create a contrasting appearance in a combined jewelry arrangement. Rings, for example, may be formed from gold with a black thick band running around the center of the ring. Conventional rings and other jewelry arrangements have limited options for the appearance of the band or other colored filler material. Certain rings include bands that are wide and flat, and generally provided above an outer surface of the metal base of the ring. In this respect, conventional rings and other jewelry arrangements are limited in the ability to create arrangements of contrast other than the generally flat black wide band as described above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There exists a need to provide various configurations in a jewelry arrangement to facilitate other contrasting options. Accordingly, at least this and other needs have been addressed by the exemplary embodiments of the jewelry arrangement according to the present invention. One such embodiment is directed to a jewelry arrangement having an elongated base, which has metal therein, with first and second surfaces. The first surface has defined therein a groove running along the length of the base. The groove preferably has a curved bottom, and is less than half as wide as the first surface.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a jewelry arrangement is provided which has an elongated metal base with first and second surfaces. The first surface has defined therein first and second grooves. According to this embodiment, the grooves are parallel and adjacent to one another and run along the length of the base. In particular, each of the grooves has a curved bottom portion.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the first surface of the base has defined therein a groove with a substantially flat bottom. A filler arrangement is disposed within the groove. The filler arrangement includes first and second tubular, elongated pieces of plastic filler material positioned in an overlapping arrangement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The detailed description will refer to the following drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like elements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a portion of an elongated metal base of a jewelry arrangement, such as a ring, according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a portion of a filler material that is generally tubular in shape, and sized to fit within a groove of the base of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows, a perspective view of a portion of the jewelry arrangement having the base of FIG. 1 and the filler material of FIG. 2 disposed within the groove defined in the surface of the base;

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the jewelry arrangement of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a portion of another embodiment of the base of the jewelry arrangement according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a portion of a filler arrangement for use in connection with the base of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a portion of a jewelry arrangement in which the filler material of FIG. 6 is positioned within the grooves in the base of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the jewelry arrangement of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a portion of yet another embodiment of the base used in connection with the jewelry arrangement according to the present invention;

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a portion of the filler arrangement for use in connection with the base of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of a portion of the jewelry arrangement formed from the base of FIG. 9 and the filler arrangement of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 shows a cross-sectional view of the jewelry arrangement of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of a portion of still another embodiment of the metal base having particular surfaces according to the present invention;

FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of a portion of the filler arrangement provided in a twisted configuration for use with the base of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of a portion of the jewelry arrangement formed from the base of FIG. 13 and the filler arrangement of FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 shows a perspective view of a portion of a further embodiment of the metal base according to the present invention;

FIG. 18 shows a perspective view of a portion of a braided filler arrangement that may be used with the base of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 shows the jewelry arrangement formed using the filler arrangement of FIG. 18 positioned within the groove of the base of FIG. 17; and

FIG. 20 shows a cross-sectional view of the jewelry arrangement of FIG. 19.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a portion of an elongated metal base 10 used to form a jewelry arrangement according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, such as a ring. The base 10 of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 includes a first surface 30 and a second surface 20. In the example in which the jewelry arrangement is a ring, the first surface 30 is a top (or outer) surface of the ring that is generally outwardly exposed when a user wears the jewelry arrangement and the second surface 20 is a bottom (or inner) surface 20 that contacts the user (e.g., the user's finger). The groove 40 extends generally along a center of the first surface 30, and has a width at or near the first surface 30 that can be less than half as wide as a width of the first surface 30, as provided in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1. The groove 40 preferably has a curved bottom 50. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the groove 40 is generally semi-circular in shape. According to the other exemplary embodiments, the groove 40 may be curved in a different manner, e.g. an oval shape, a U-shape etc. It is also possible for the groove 40 to have other shapes (e.g. a V-shape).

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a portion of a filler material 60 that is generally tubular in shape, and is preferably sized to fit within the groove 40 of the base 10 of FIG. 1. The filler material 60 of this exemplary embodiment can be a flexible plastic or rubber-type material, such as fluorosilicone, perfluoroelastomer, neoprene, nitrite, polyurethan, silicone, viton (fluorocarbon), or teflon. Other materials are conceivable and are within the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a portion of a jewelry arrangement 1 having the filler material 60 of FIG. 3 disposed within the groove 40 defined in the surface 30 of the base 10 of FIG. 2. In one exemplary embodiment, the filler material 60 has a color that contrasts with the color of the base 10. For example, the base 10 may be made of a gold, silver, platinum, titanium, or other metal having a relatively light color, and the material 60 may be black, blue, red, orange, green, or another relatively dark or bright color. In another exemplary embodiment, the jewelry arrangement 1 includes multiple, interchangeable portions/pieces of the filler material 60, where each of the portions/pieces of the fillers material 60 has a different color. According to still another embodiment, the filler material 60 is elastic, and is not adhesively connected to the base 10. In this manner, the filler material 60 may be easily removed from the arrangement 1, for example, to clean the arrangement 1, replace a worn piece of the filler material 60, and/or interchange the filler material 60 with a different type of the filler material 60, such as having a different color or pattern.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the jewelry arrangement 1 shown in FIG. 3. The filler material 60 can generally be circular in a cross-section, and preferably fits within the similarly-curved groove 40 of the base 10. In one exemplary embodiment, the filler material 60 is elastic, and due to such elasticity it is extended over the groove so as to be snugly positional within the groove 40. In another exemplary embodiment, an adhesive may be used to bond the filler material 60 to the groove 40 of the base 10.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a portion of another embodiment of a base 11 of the jewelry arrangement according to the present invention. As shown on FIG. 5, the base 11 has surfaces 21, 31. First and second grooves 41, 42 are defined in the surface 31, and can extend generally adjacent and parallel to each other along the length of the metal base 11. Each of the grooves 41, 42 may have a curved bottom portion 51, 52 similar to the bottom portion of the groove 40 shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a filler arrangement 80 that can be adapted for use in connection with the base 11 of FIG. 5. In FIG. 6, the filler arrangement 80 includes first and second elongated sections of filler material 61, 62 that fit within the grooves 41, 42 shown in FIG. 5. Each of the portions/pieces 61, 62 may be formed from material that is similar to the portion/piece of the filler material 60 described above with respect to FIGS. 1-4. In one further exemplary embodiment, the first and second sections of the filler material 61, 62 have different colors.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a portion of a jewelry arrangement 2 in which the portions/pieces of filler material 61, 62 of FIG. 6 are positioned within the grooves 41, 42 in the base 11 of FIG. 5. As described above for the embodiment of FIG. 3, the portions/pieces of the filler material 61, 62 may be elastically extended over the groove so as to be snugly positioned within the grooves 41, 42 due to the elastic properties of the filler material 61, 62 itself, and/or may be adhesively connected to the base 11.

FIG. 8 shows a cross-section of the arrangement 2 of FIG. 7. In particular, the first and second pieces of the filler material 61, 62 preferably fit within the grooves 41, 42 of the metal base 11. The grooves 41, 42 have curved bottom portions 51, 52 that accommodate the shape of the generally tubular sections of the filler material 61, 62.

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a portion of yet another exemplary embodiment of a base 12 used in connection with the jewelry arrangement according to the present invention. The base 12 includes bottom and top surfaces 22, 32. Grooves 43, 44, 45 are defined in the top surface 32 of the base 12. Each of the grooves 43, 44, 45 has a respective substantially curved bottom portion 53, 54, 55. The grooves 43, 44, 45 extend along the top surface 32 substantially parallel to each other, and run generally along the length of the base 12. As shown in, FIG. 9, the grooves 43, 44, 45 are generally centered across the width of the top surface 32. In other exemplary embodiments, the grooves 43, 44, 45 may be positioned off-center of the top surface 32.

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a portion of a filler arrangement 81 for use in connection with a jewelry arrangement. The filler arrangement 81 includes three tubular elongated plastic material portions/pieces 63, 64, 65. The pieces 63, 64, 65 preferably fit within the grooves 43, 44, 45 illustrated in FIG. 9. Each of the portions/pieces 63, 64, 65 may be substantially similar to the portions/pieces of filler material 61, 62 described above with respect to FIGS. 2 and 6.

FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of a portion of a jewelry arrangement 3 formed from the base 12 of FIG. 9 and the filler arrangement 81 of FIG. 10. FIG. 12 shows a cross-sectional view of the jewelry arrangement 3 of FIG. 11. In particular, each of the grooves 43, 44, 45 has a substantially curved bottom portion 53, 54, 55, respectively, that accommodates the tubular shape of the associated fillers 63, 64, 65.

FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of a portion of still another exemplary embodiment of a metal base 13 according to the present invention having bottom and top surfaces 23, 33. A groove 46 is defined in the top surface 33 that extends generally along the center of the top surface 33. The groove 46 has a substantially flat bottom section 56 with curved inner corners 71, 72 running along the length of the groove 46.

FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of a portion of a filler arrangement 82 that can be used in cooperation with the groove 46 shown in FIG. 13. In particular, the filler arrangement 82 can be formed from two elongated portions of plastic material 66, 67 twisted about each other. In one example, the filler arrangement 82 may be formed from two pieces of a filler material 66, 67, similar to the portions/pieces 60-65 described above with respect to FIGS. 2, 6, and 10. In another example, a single portion/piece of the plastic material may be formed to be in the shape of two pieces of filler material 66, 67, twisted about each other.

FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of a portion of a jewelry arrangement 4 formed from the base 13 of FIG. 13 and the filler arrangement 82 of FIG. 14. FIG. 16 shows a cross-sectional view of the jewelry arrangement 4 of FIG. 15. The twisted filler arrangement 82 is positioned within the groove 46 of the base 13.

FIG. 17 shows a perspective view of a portion of a further exemplary embodiment of a metal base 14. The metal base 14 has bottom and top surfaces 24, 34. A groove 47 is defined in the top surface 34. The groove 47 has a substantially flat bottom section 57 and curved inner corners 73, 74.

FIG. 18 shows a perspective view of a portion of a braided filler arrangement 83 that can be used in cooperation with the groove 47 shown in FIG. 17. In particular, the filler arrangement 83 can be formed from three elongated tubular pieces of plastic material 68, 69, 70. In one example, the filler arrangement 83 may be formed from three pieces of filler material 68, 69, 70, and in another example, a single section/piece of material may use the shape of three portions/pieces of the filler material 68, 69, 70 braided about each other. As with the individual piece of the filler material 60 described above with respect to FIGS. 2-4, the filler arrangement 83 (and the arrangement 82 of FIG. 14) may be interchanged with other arrangements, for example, having different colors or patterns, in one further exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 19 shows a jewelry arrangement 5 formed using the filler arrangement 83 of FIG. 18 positioned within the groove 47 of the base 14 of FIG. 17. FIG. 20 shows a cross-sectional view of the jewelry arrangement 5 of FIG. 19. In particular, the three tubular pieces of material 68, 69, 70 are positioned in a braided pattern on a generally flat bottom 57 of the groove 47 defined in the surface 34 of the metal base 14 of the jewelry arrangement 5.

Although the present invention has been described with respect to particular embodiments thereof, variations are possible. The present invention may be embodied in specific forms without departing from the essential spirit or attributes thereof. For example, although the present invention is described with respect to particular arrangements of one, two, or three tubular pieces of filler material and in twisted or braided arrangements, one skilled in the art will recognize that other arrangements are possible, including the use of additional pieces of filler material extending appropriately parallel to each other or positioned in different overlapping arrangements. It is desired that the embodiments described herein be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive and that reference be made to the appended claims and their equivalents for determining the scope of the invention. 

1. A jewelry arrangement comprising: a metal base having first and second surfaces, wherein the first surface has a groove extending along at least a portion of the base, wherein the groove has a curved bottom section, and wherein the groove has a width that is about less than half of the width of the first surface; and at least one elongated plastic filler material disposed in the groove.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The arrangement of claim 2, wherein the filler material has a tubular shape.
 4. The arrangement of claim 2, wherein the plastic material has a color that contrasts a color of the metal base.
 5. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the metal base has a shape of a ring, wherein the first surface is an outer surface of the ring, and wherein the second surface is an inner surface of the ring.
 6. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the groove is approximately centered to extend along a width of the first surface.
 7. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the at least one plastic elongated filler material is provided in a plurality of pieces, and wherein the pieces include portions having different colors.
 8. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the at least one filler material is adhesively connected to the base at the groove.
 9. A jewelry arrangement comprising: a metal base having first and second surfaces, wherein the first surface has first and second grooves extending parallel to one another along the length of the base, wherein each of the grooves has a curved bottom portion.
 10. The arrangement of claim 9, further comprising first and second pieces of elongated, tubular plastic filler material disposed within the first and second grooves, respectively.
 11. The arrangement of claim 10, wherein one of the first and second pieces has a different color from another of the first and second pieces.
 12. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein the first surface has a third groove adjacent and parallel to the first and second grooves, wherein the third groove has a further curved bottom portion.
 13. The arrangement of claim 12, further comprising first, second, and third pieces of elongated, tubular plastic filler material disposed within the first, second, and third grooves, respectively.
 14. A jewelry arrangement comprising: a metal base having first and second surfaces, wherein the first surface has defined therein a groove; and a filler arrangement disposed within the groove, wherein the filler arrangement comprises first and second curved, elongated pieces having at least one of a plastic-type filler material or a rubber-type filler material positioned at least partially in an overlapping manner.
 15. The arrangement of claim 14, wherein the first and second pieces are tubular and twisted about each other.
 16. The arrangement of claim 14, wherein the filler arrangement further comprises a third curved, elongated piece of the filler material disposed within the groove at least partially in an overlapping arrangement with the first and second pieces, wherein the first, second, and third pieces are positioned in a braided arrangement.
 17. The arrangement of claim 14, wherein the base has a shape of a ring, wherein the first surface forms an outer surface of the ring and wherein the second surface forms an inner surface of the ring.
 18. The arrangement of claim 14, wherein the groove extends generally along a center of the first surface.
 19. The arrangement of claim 14, wherein the filler arrangement is formed from an elastic material and is interchangeable with a further filler arrangement.
 20. The arrangement of claim 14, wherein the filler arrangement comprises one or more colors that contrast with a color of the metal base. 